NINE people have been ordered to pay a total of more than £5,600 compensation for naming Ched Evans’ rape victim on the internet.

Wales and Sheffield United striker Evans, 23, was jailed for five years at Caernarfon Crown Court on April 20 after being found guilty by a jury of raping a drunken 19-year-old woman in an hotel room near Rhyl while another player was cleared. He maintains his innocence, but on Tuesday had his appeal case rejected by three judges at the Court of Appeal in London.

The nine at Prestatyn Magistrates Court admitted identifying his victim on Twitter and Facebook all within a couple of days of his conviction.

It is thought to be the largest number of defendants prosecuted together for such an offence, which carries a maximum fine of £5,000.

A tenth person, Alexandra Hewitt, 24, of Cherry Dale Road, Broughton, denied the charge. She will appear at the court for trial on January 21.